Operations Research Analysts
SOC 15-2031 · 2024-2034
Formulate and apply mathematical modeling and other optimizing methods to develop and interpret information that assists management with decisionmaking, policy formulation, or other managerial functions. May collect and analyze data and develop decision support software, services, or products. May develop and supply optimal time, cost, or logistics networks for program evaluation, review, or implementation.
How the U.S. Department of Labor describes this work. Published in English only.
The job this trains for
- Typical pay in California
- $104,958per year
- Projected openings
- 9,630
- Projected change
- +22.5%
- Usually needs
- Bachelor's degree
Bright Outlook — a U.S. Department of Labor designation
Rapid Growth
The Department's own designation, made from its national projections. It is not this project's assessment and it is not California's: every other figure on this page comes from California's projection, which can point the other way and for some occupations does.
Skills this work uses most
O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupation database, rates how important each of these is to this work, and they are listed in that order, most important first. The ratings themselves are not shown, because the data carries the number without the scale it was measured on. The names are as published, in English.
- Mathematics
- Complex Problem Solving
- Writing
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
Pay by region
| Region | Typical pay in California | Projected openings |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara MSA (San Benito and Santa Clara Counties) | $115,609 | 850 |
| San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City MD (San Francisco and San Mateo Counties) | $113,869 | 1,380 |
| Oakland-Fremont-Berkeley MD (Alameda and Contra Costa Counties) | $109,306 | 700 |
| Bakersfield-Delano MSA (Kern County) | $104,146 | 110 |
| San Rafael MD (Marin County) | $96,842 | 30 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura MSA (Ventura County) | $96,657 | 170 |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region (Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity Counties) | $95,271 | 20 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom MSA (El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo Counties) | $93,658 | 490 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad MSA (San Diego County) | $92,949 | 1,240 |
| Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine MD (Orange County) | $92,682 | 910 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara MSA (Santa Barbara County) | $91,398 | 80 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale MD (Los Angeles County) | $90,149 | 2,410 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma MSA (Sonoma County) | $89,621 | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA (Riverside and San Bernardino Counties) | $87,587 | 400 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville MSA (Santa Cruz County) | $86,088 | 40 |
| Merced MSA (Merced County) | $85,389 | 20 |
| Modesto MSA (Stanislaus County) | $85,389 | 80 |
| Fresno MSA (Fresno and Madera Counties) | $85,019 | 140 |
| Stockton-Lodi MSA (San Joaquin County) | $67,999 | 80 |
Similar work
O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupation database, names these as occupations involving work similar to this one — its own reading of the job, not a grouping by code. They keep O*NET's order, and only those California publishes a projection for are shown.
| The job this trains for | Typical pay in California | Projected openings | Projected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Scientists | $145,554 | 40,180 | +37.1% |
| Management Analysts | $103,162 | 154,880 | +11.5% |
| Software Developers | $179,292 | 207,260 | +18.4% |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $131,295 | 41,500 | +9.7% |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $163,554 | 7,690 | +26.1% |
| Statisticians | $139,766 | 1,860 | +15.4% |
Leads to — 1
R for Data Analytics (Online)
UCSD Division of Extended Studies · La Jolla · $3,635